Track or autocross
12-09-13, 03:12 PM
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Track or autocross
Was wondering if anyone has tracked or autocrossed their IS or planned on doing it? What is the car like stock or modified? Currently my car is stock and feels quite nimble and fun in the streets. Planning on organizing a track event or rejoin SCCA for autocrossing next year and take the IS instead of my S2K.
12-09-13, 03:16 PM
#2
I track my 07 is250. Did my first streets of willow track event with just eibach lowering springs and then I started upgrading my suspension when I started noticing the weak points in the stock one. I did a couple canyon runs around GMR, Little tujunga, Stunt Road and malibu canyon... Felt great for being stock but you'll quickly realize that it is no where near the level of an S2K. What track do you go to the most?
12-09-13, 04:13 PM
#3
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Cool. Just Thunderhill. I have organized a few events there mostly with friends/coworkers in the biotech field but anyone could join. I would definitely like to try the IS. What else did you do to the suspension?
12-10-13, 10:02 AM
#4
I love Thunderhill...Took my older BMW motorcycle there for a few track days while I lived in the bay area.
Haven't raced my IS350 yet, but I want to. My main limiting factor is lack of head space and being able to wear a helmet. But personally I wouldn't bother trying to AutoX this car. I can't see AutoXing an automatic as being anything other than frustrating, especially since our cars won't hold gears and allow you to bounce off the rev limiter.
Haven't raced my IS350 yet, but I want to. My main limiting factor is lack of head space and being able to wear a helmet. But personally I wouldn't bother trying to AutoX this car. I can't see AutoXing an automatic as being anything other than frustrating, especially since our cars won't hold gears and allow you to bounce off the rev limiter.
12-10-13, 11:10 AM
#5
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Thunderhill is a great track. You are right about the autox. So even in manual mode, it won't hold a gear to redline? My Fit is a slushbox with paddle shifters and a manual mode and it will hold the gear. Took it to an autocross and it was pretty fun but gutless as expected. I will probably skip taking the IS to one.
12-10-13, 01:57 PM
#6
Yeah, I've only been able to try it through the first three gears (which is more than you'd need in an AutoX, anyway) and it wouldn't even get to redline. In M mode, and regardless of drive mode being normal, Sport, or Sport+, it would upshift a good 300-400 RPM before indicated redline.
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12-10-13, 05:07 PM
#8
Intermediate
My dealer did a track event at VIR for the launch of the 2014 IS. I BEGGED to work the event and luckily got to skip a day of work and drive some out there. I got to drive a 2014 IS350 F-sport (AWD and 2WD), IS250 F-sport 2wd, 2013 IS250 AWD, and a 2014 GS350 all back to back.
As expected, the IS350 F-sport 2wd was my favorite. Very predictable, good power, very good grip. All of the cars were good, the 14 IS250 F-sport was awesome, just under powered. The 2014 350 F-sport AWD seemed to push a little more in the front end than the 2wd, and the 2013 IS250 was terrible in my opinion. The paddle shifters did surprisingly well. Firm upshifts and the rev matching was very nice and predicable when trail braking into corners. Only problem I had was if you take the rpms to redline, the system automatically upshifts. If you upshift the same time it does this, you go up two gears, not one.
I got to ride around the track with some customers who obviously had never driven a car hard, and it spoke MILES of the driver aids in the cars. If it wasn't for them, we would have ended up in some bad situations. It was an awesome day and a good experience. I ended up leasing the 350 F-sport AWD we took down there and love it.
Just a note: I used to be heavy in track days on motorcycles, so I am not a stranger to racetracks. However, I don't claim to be an expert in a car on a race track. The cars did awesome and I think anyone would be happy doing a track day in one, especially a first timer.
As expected, the IS350 F-sport 2wd was my favorite. Very predictable, good power, very good grip. All of the cars were good, the 14 IS250 F-sport was awesome, just under powered. The 2014 350 F-sport AWD seemed to push a little more in the front end than the 2wd, and the 2013 IS250 was terrible in my opinion. The paddle shifters did surprisingly well. Firm upshifts and the rev matching was very nice and predicable when trail braking into corners. Only problem I had was if you take the rpms to redline, the system automatically upshifts. If you upshift the same time it does this, you go up two gears, not one.
I got to ride around the track with some customers who obviously had never driven a car hard, and it spoke MILES of the driver aids in the cars. If it wasn't for them, we would have ended up in some bad situations. It was an awesome day and a good experience. I ended up leasing the 350 F-sport AWD we took down there and love it.
Just a note: I used to be heavy in track days on motorcycles, so I am not a stranger to racetracks. However, I don't claim to be an expert in a car on a race track. The cars did awesome and I think anyone would be happy doing a track day in one, especially a first timer.
Last edited by onepointon; 12-10-13 at 05:14 PM.
12-10-13, 05:11 PM
#10
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I took my partners 2013 ES350 and it was fun, very floaty but fun nonetheless. My mom is getting an Ultra White/ Rioja 250 F- Sport AWD and I can't wait to see what it does. I took my 2013 Camry SE 4 cylinder to a couple AutoX events and man I loved the way the car handled and held the gears fairly decently using the paddles.
12-10-13, 05:35 PM
#11
Intermediate
Do you have a F-sport? If so, I think you will be happy with the performance of the paddles. The firm shifts and rev matched downshifts are pretty legit in my opinion. I have been such a hater on non-manual shifting cars and I was pretty impressed on the track.
12-10-13, 08:13 PM
#12
Lexus Champion
Non F Sport models have the paddle shifters too.
12-11-13, 05:19 PM
#13
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You will definitely like the IS on the track... It handles 10x better than my 13 Camry SE and my 13 Camry handles way better than my 2010 Camry SE did and it handled decently even with the Michelin MXV4 S8 energy saver tires.
